‘Saw’ Franchise Rights Acquired by Blumhouse, Reuniting James Wan with Horror Series

The biggest sanction successful scary now has nan authorities to 1 of nan astir successful scary franchises ever.

Blumhouse has acquired nan prospective authorities to “Saw,” meaning nan opportunity to bring Jigsaw backmost to life pinch caller “Saw” films is backmost successful nan hands of Atomic Monster and James Wan, who directed nan original “Saw” film from 2004.

The controlling liking successful nan “Saw” franchise was owned by producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg, who, aft 20 years, are handing complete nan reins to Wan and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, whose Blumhouse merged pinch Atomic Monster backmost successful 2024. Leigh Whannell, who co-created and wrote nan original “Saw,” is besides successful nan Blumhouse beingness and has directed some “The Invisible Man” and “Wolf Man” for nan scary banner.

Koules and Burg are moving connected aft nan caller passing of executive shaper Jason Constantine, who died earlier this month. Financial specifications of nan transaction were not disclosed.

Lionsgate, which has distributed nan “Saw” franchise for years, has ever had a 50-50 liking successful “Saw,” and its authorities won’t change. Lionsgate will proceed to beryllium a partner successful nan spot and will besides administer caller “Saw” films domestically, and it will activity pinch Blumhouse and Atomic Monster connected nan world merchandise strategy for nan films. Content Partners has besides acquired a liking successful nan existing library, and Burg has retained a stock successful nan franchise.

The 10 “Saw” films, including nan most caller movie from 2023, “Saw X,” person grossed $1.1 cardinal astatine nan world container agency and is nan 5th astir successful scary franchise ever. Atomic Monster was already responsible for nan astir lucrative franchise, The Conjuring Universe, and Blumhouse besides has “Paranormal Activity,” “Halloween,” and “Insidious.”

“With nan occurrence of nan 10th film, this felt for illustration nan correct clip to walk nan baton. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built pinch Lionsgate complete nan past 20 years and profoundly grateful to nan fans who’ve been pinch america since nan beginning,” Koules said. “It’s particularly meaningful to spot nan franchise return to its original creators, James and Leigh, and I can’t deliberation of a amended partner than Jason to lead ‘Saw’ into its adjacent chapter. On a individual note, I cognize nan precocious Gregg Hoffman, my original partner connected this journey, would beryllium truthful happy pinch this ending,”

“Twenty-one years ago, we met James Wan and Leigh Whannell and financed nan first ‘Saw’ movie. The movie was magical, and a deed beyond our wildest dreams, and our fans kept nan franchise live for complete 20 years,” Burg said. “It’s been an astonishing thrust and, pinch nan caller passing of our beloved executive producer, Jason Constantine, it’s clip for maine to move connected and show caller stories. ‘Saw’ will ever beryllium a portion of my history and Hollywood history, and I dream Jigsaw and nan Saw Universe unrecorded connected for galore much movies and years to come. Lastly, I’d for illustration to convey each nan astonishing actors, crew, and Lionsgate executives who person worked pinch america connected 10 movies complete nan past 20 years — nary of this could person happened without you all. We wish James, Leigh and Jason immense occurrence pinch nan continuation of nan franchise.”

The “Saw” franchise follows nan actions of serial slayer Jigsaw, embodied by nan disturbing-looking Billy nan Puppet ventriloquist dummy, who puts his victims done vulnerable and torturous games to survive. Actor Tobin Bell has voiced Jigsaw successful each 10 films.

When Blumhouse and Atomic Monster first began their merger, they did truthful pinch nan costly acquisition of “The Exorcist” franchise, which nan brands hoped to revitalize successful nan measurement they did pinch John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” bringing backmost nan original stars and tying nan communicative backmost into nan canon of nan first movie from head William Friedkin. Those plans were scrapped, and head David Gordon Green exited further planned sequels aft “The Exorcist: Believer” flopped astatine nan container office. Director Mike Flanagan, however, is stepping successful and plans to merchandise a caller movie successful nan bid early adjacent year.

“’Saw’ holds a typical spot successful my bosom — it’s wherever Leigh and I began our Hollywood journey. Coming backmost to this world pinch a caller position is some thrilling and profoundly personal,” Wan said. “For me, this will people a important imaginative return to nan ‘Saw’ franchise for nan first clip since nan early days, and I’m very overmuch looking guardant to embracing nan original tone whilst pushing nan bequest guardant successful bold, unexpected ways.”

“The ‘Saw’ franchise has defined a procreation of horror, and its taste effect continues to grow, making this a strategical finance successful 1 of nan astir recognizable and successful genre properties of nan past 2 decades,” Blum said successful a statement. “But what really excites maine astir bringing ‘Saw’ to Blumhouse is having James and Leigh backmost successful nan fold and to spot nan early of nan franchise travel to life pinch their guidance.”

“Over nan people of 10 chilling and thrilling ‘Saw’ films, Oren and Mark person been outstanding partners, producers, and stewards of this billion-dollar franchise, which has played a monolithic domiciled successful Lionsgate history. As they walk nan baton to James — whose guidance started it each — and to Jason and nan squad astatine Blumhouse, Billy couldn’t beryllium successful much talented aliases twisted hands. Game on,” Adam Fogelson, chair of nan Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said successful a statement.

Jason Blum precocious said pinch property astir nan state of scary and its early slate of films, which includes a drawstring of sequels successful different burgeoning scary franchises for nan brand, including “The Black Phone 2,” “M3GAN 2.0,” “Five Nights astatine Freddy’s 2,” and a follow-up to nan Octavia Spencer scary movie “Ma.”

CAA Evolution served arsenic sole financial advisor connected nan transaction.